A British man who smuggled four kilograms (8.8 pounds) of heroin into China while dreaming of pop stardom has been put to death by lethal injection.

Akmal Shaikh was scheduled to be executed at 10:30am Beijing time (2:30am GMT) Tuesday but supporters waited for almost two hours for news of his death.

It was eventually announced by the British government.

“I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms, and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted,” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.